Metropolitan Police 1-4 Dulwich Hamlet

A stunning first half, including a hat trick from Reise Allassani, saw The Hamlet defeat the 2nd placed Met.

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Dulwich produced a scintillating first-half display to decide this top two clash at Imber Court. Reise Allassani’s hat-trick not only brought an emphatic end to the Met’s 15-match unbeaten run, but also lifted Gavin Rose’s side seven points clear of the chasing pack.

The starting line-up was due to show four changes from the side that had completed the double over Harrow Borough in midweek. Tanasheh Abrahams, Anthony Acheampong, Kenny Beaney and Nana Boakye-Yiadom replaced Nathan Green, Rickie Hayles, Ashley Carew and Gavin Tomlin respectively in the named side. But Gavin Tomlin was quickly restored to the starting eleven when Nana was injured in the pre-match warm-up.

Hamlet were quickly out of the traps and missed a great chance to take the lead in the 5th minute when a ball down the left from Tanasheh Abrahams sent Reise Allassani racing clear, but with only the ‘keeper to beat Reise dragged his shot wide of the far post.

However, ten minutes later, Reise shrugged off a challenge 25 yards from goal, moved forward and as he reached the edge of the box hit a perfectly-placed shot inside the diving ‘keeper’s right-hand post. Four minutes later it became 2-0. Reise Allassani again got away down the left and with ‘keeper Luke Williams rashly leaving his box to intercept, the Dulwich striker turned inside past the stranded ‘keeper and threaded his shot between a couple of retreating defenders and into the empty net.

The Met threatened briefly when tricky front man Lloyd Macklin got clear to the line to the left of goal, but Hamlet’s defence scrambled the ball clear from the corner of the six-yard box. Dulwich’s attack continued to cause no end of problems for the home side and should have made it three on 27 minutes when a neat build-up led to Gavin Tomlin crossing to the far-post where Nathan Ferguson skied the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy. This proved only a brief respite for the Met. On the half-hour mark, Dulwich gained a free-kick outside the box on the right and Gavin Tomlin’s delightful delivery into the goalmouth was met by Mark Weatherstone with a thumping header into the roof of the net.

Preston Edwards made a full-length save as the home side retaliated, but things just got better for Dulwich, and Reise Allassani, with a fourth goal in the 39th minute. Gavin Tomlin’s deep cross from the right was met by Reise just beyond the back post and his looping header back across goal squeezed through the outstretched fingers of Luke Williams and over the line with Anthony Acheampong following the ball in to make sure. But it was Reise’s goal and his treble increases his tally to nine goals in just eight appearances for the Club. Strong defensive work, including a tip over by Preston Edwards from Jonny Wright, ensured that Hamlet went in at half-time a mightily impressive four goals to the good.

There was no way back for the Met, but to their credit they tried hard to salvage something from the game in the second-half. They almost reduced the arrears on 54 minutes when from a left-wing corner to the near post Sam Williams headed beyond Preston Edwards, but the ball struck the bar and rebounded into play. Having done all the hard work in the first-half Dulwich appeared content to soak up the pressure and catch the Met on the break for the rest of the game. Even when the home side did fashion a shooting chance, their efforts were generally off target with Preston seldom extended.

But despite a valiant effort, our ‘keeper was unable to keep a clean sheet. Four minutes from time, Met’s Tom Bird was tripped just inside the box and although Preston pulled off a fine save when he dived to his right to block Macklin’s penalty, he was powerless to prevent Zac Newton from netting the rebound for a late consolation goal.